October 18th, 2009  Bowling Green, KY  The Goodguys
2nd Nostalgia Nationals at historic Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling
Green, Kentucky was a colorful blend of hot rods, vintage race cars,
crisp fall weather and an enthusiastic crowd that witnessed a spectacular
weekend of racing and hot rodding! In the end, the weather got warm
and rods and race cars packed the quaint facility owned and operated
by Dallas Jones and his family. The 2nd Nostalgia Nationals served
as the third and final Goodguys Vintage Drag Race of the 2009 season.
After two runner-up finishes in nostalgia top fuel this year, the
third time proved to be the charm for veteran Howard Haight. Driving
the New York based Nitro-Diction entry tuned by Pete
Jensen; Haight broke through for his 7th career Goodguys top fuel
win in 8 career finals. I want this one bad said Haight
while helping prepare the car for the final. He started the day
by dispatching Kevin Brewers Midwest Threat with
a 6.392, and then took down Diamond Dave Millers
Telstar entry with a 6.303 in the semis before
defeating the car of Odie Coker in the final 6.426 @ 234.70 to Cokers
red-lighting 7.037. The Nitro Diction entry was the
only top fuel car to run a sub-seven second run in each round of
eliminations.

Nostalgia funny car racer Peter Gallen of Broomall, Pennsylvania
took his colorful Poverty Stricken 74 Vega to
a popular win here in Bowling Green defeating a stout field of 9
vintage funny cars. Racing out of the #2 qualifying slot, Gallen
drew Paul Romine in the Man O War 79 Ford
Mustang for his first round race in what turned out to be the fastest
side-by-side nostalgia funny car race in Goodguys history. Gaining
a .114 to .141 advantage off the line, Gallen ran 5.945 @ 246.53
to defeat Romines gallant 5.955 @ 244.47. He then ran 6.151
to defeat John Dunns Dunn & Gone 73
Duster in the semis then defeated arch rival and #1 qualifier
Steve Nichols in the final running 6.107 to Nichols tire-smoking
7.766. Gallens 8 month old son Aiden joined his daddy and
the rest of the happy crew in the winners circle to accept
their first Goodguys hemi Oscar.

Returning to the winners circle in Pro Comp I for the first
time this season was Richard Edwards and his VP Racing Fuels sponsored
48 Fiat. A two time winner in 2008, Edwards used a 7.088 on
a 7.00 class index to collect the event win over a red-lighting
Steve Walczak. In the 7.50 index Pro Comp II eliminator it was Steve
Knopp tasting victory with a 7.536 winning ET.

Utica, Kentuckys Darrell Wathen showed everyone in the 8.50
index B/GBAS category why hes the man to beat. Twice in eliminations,
Wathen pegged the index with runs of 8.503 to defeat Rob Davis in
the semis and again with an 8.505 in the final to defeat a wheelstanding
Larry Grenke. Grenke must be given some credit for showmanship as
the wheelstands he pulled throughout the weekend in his blown 63
Plymouth Belvedere left the race fans begging for more!

Yet another treat for the fans was Saturdays round robin,
run-til-theres-a-winner 1/8th mile eliminations for
the Street Rod Shootout and Hot Rod Shootout. Pitting cars from
the car show side of the event against each other in heads-up 1/8th
mile competition in two divisions (Hot Rod are allowed blowers and
nitrous) the event always attracts some exciting show cars strutting
their stuff on the dragstrip.

Tasting victory in the Street Rod Shootout was New Berlin, Wisconsins
Jiggs Lindhorst. Competing here in Bowling Green for the first time
after winning the Hot Rod Nationals in Indy 5 times, Lindhorst took
out 2008 Hot Rod Nationals champion Ralphe Dehne in the quarter
finals with a 7.324 to Dehnes 7.351 (which turned out to be
the closest race of the entire shootout). In the semis, Lindhorst
went sub-7 seconds clicking off a 6.919 @ 98.58mph, then in the
final dispatched the 68 Olds 442 of Larry Mayfield with his
best 1/8th mile lap ever  an amazing 6.865 @ 98.33mph!

In the Hot Rod Shootout, Chris Cowles, behind the wheel of his
70 Nova went looking for a repeat performance of last years
win here. He got it with a straight and true 6.953 @ 96.05 to defeat
Darryl Scotts 7.728 @ 91.84.

The special match race between Rich Guascos Pure Hell
and Dave Houghs Nanook fuel altereds certainly
didnt disappoint with each car getting a match race win and
bragging rights. In Sundays first lap, Jason Richey drove
Gauscos famed 32 bantam to a winning time of 6.647 @
161.11 while in the afternoon stanza, Nanook took the win with a
6.683 @ 216.83 while Richey smoked the tires the entire length of
the quarter mile to the delight of the crowd.

It turned out to be quite an afternoon and an even better evening
here at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green for the 2nd Nostalgia
Nationals. This morning you could have gotten about 50-1 odds that
we wouldnt have been able to run anything down the track today
but thanks to clearning skies, the track crew and the racers, we
got an entire afternoon of racing in and in some cases, certain
classes got in multiple qualifying attempts.

After a get acquainted opening nostalgia funny car
session around 3:30pm, the floppers came back under the lights and
really got busy with Steve Nichols and the Mill Road Boys Camaro
jumping up to grab the pole. Nobody thought the track would hold
a number like that but it did. As darkness set in, Nichols, Anthony
Bronge (in his brand new 69 Camaro), Kevin Lennon, John Dunn
and Shawn Bowen all improved their spot on the ladder in the second
session.

Only one top fuel dragster opted to run the late session and it
turned out to be the right move for Odie Coker in Charlie Smiths
alcohol car. He ran right past all the nitro burners (who admittedly
struggled to get down the track earlier) for the top spot on the
ladder. Hell need some racing luck tomorrow when conditions
get good. The fuel cars should be able to pour the coals to
it tomorrow.

Pure Hell and Nanook lined up for their much anticipated fuel altered
match race but at the line, Nanook developed a fuel leak and had
to be shut off for safety reasons. Driver Jason Richey tried his
best to get Rich Guascos Pure Hell down the track but was
unsuccessful for the most part running an on and off the throttle
10 second pass

It promises to be a great final day at the 2nd Nostalgia Nationals
tomorrow so come on out! Well have all the final results up
later tomorrow evening!

The second weekend of every September has become synonymous with
Canada's largest outdoor car show in Langley, B.C.. Known simply
as the Langley Cruise In, the event plays host to an incredible
gathering of over 2,000 street rods, hot rods, collector cars, jalopies
and every other conceivable form of vehicle that has, at some point
in history, motored down our highways.

Saturday is the main show and shine event and upwards of 200,000
enthusiasts flock to this city to take in the sights and sounds
of automobile history.

However the Friday night before the show and shine has also become
legendary as 100's of high horsepower street legal muscle cars cruise
the streets of downtown Langley. Again the crowds gather, but on
this night they are looking for something different than static
displays.

Yes, spectators line the streets of downtown Langley, carefully
watching every car as they cruise by, in hopes that they might perform
a long, noisy and smokey burnout or maybe even mount a short drag
race as a traffic light turns green.

Over the years the crowd has not been disappointed and the scope
of the event grew in stature. However, as more people attended,
the potential for disaster increased and as fate would have it,
the local constabulary has stepped in to ensure public safety.

Over the past couple of years they have clamped down on any "illigal"
activity, and in fact have adopted a zero tolerance policy with
regards to these activities. Dozens of police cars cruise the streets
along with the street rods.

At times the police presence seems larger than the rest of the
cars put together. So for the most part the cars cruise up and down
the strip, and every once in a while some brave soul briefly lights
up their tires.

However the frequency and intensity of any real action has now
been replaced by the rumble of idling horsepower.

All of this said, it is still worth the price of admission (free)
to see so many beautiful cars (and trucks) driving down main street
in such numbers and to experience the common love affair that all
of those present share for these incredible machines.

Here are a few shots that I took on Friday to record my experience
of the evening. I hope you enjoy!

(A quick note to say that by the end of the Friday action on Fraser
HWY and Industrial, the police had handed out over 200 citations
for various infractions including noise bylaws, dangerous driving,
stop light infractions etc.)

What a day at MRP. Wheel stands and career bests and few brushes
with disaster. Five AA/GS in the 6's in extreme heat, including
Gary Reinero going 207 and Brent Harris annihilating his previous
bests going 206 mph and qualifying #2 with a 6.817 . Darryl Stone
goes 6.73 in his Camaro for a career best as well.

A wild weekend at the Plex, as there was a little bit of everything
by way of weather, racing excitement and something a little bit
unexpected.

The largest car count in recent memory for any event at the 'Plex
included a whopping 257 race cars and over 150 show n shine in attendance
making the total over 400. Kudo's to the Loafers and the 'Plex for
putting on a great show, as the action was completed by 4:00 pm
Sunday.

The street action in Cache Creek was also pretty lively Friday
and Saturday Night. There was a huge Burnout contest, and a massive
BBQ put on by Frybe's gourmet foods Saturday night. They know how
to put on a BBQ for sure.

Looking at Robbie's Motel and seeing all the cool rods lined up
on both nights was very reminiscent. The Bonaparte hosted the BBQ
and it was the first time I have been to that Hotel, it has a very
nice set up in their courtyard. A few of the other older Hotels
would be wise to improve their look.

As far as the unexpected part goes, scroll down and you will see!!

Here are the winners from Sunday Elimination's.

Blown Outlaw

A bit of a disappointment for the cars in this cool class as four
of the quicker cars (all six second performers) broke in qualifying
and did not play in elimination's. Three of the cars that were in
elimination's including winner Brent Murray, runner up Troy Clayton
and Dennis Hicks FED driven by Jim Obalek all put in awesome performances.

A solid field of 15 Doorslammers ran in eliminating on Sunday,
and I have to say that Kerry Stone's new turboe'd Camaro is one
awesome machine. He will give Terry Spargo a bit of a run for the
money in the #1 qualifier battle if he makes the trek south to MRP
from his home in Kelowna. Zak Clarke took the win though, over a
very surprising Phil Davis. Phil was on quite a roll in the first
three rounds of eliminating, but his stellar rt's weren't there
in the final round, and Zak had his best rt of eliminating in the
final, as he took a tenth of a second stripe at the finish line.

In a best of three battle between a couple black beauties, Duane
Grosart in his very awesome 55 Chevy defeated Roy Lazic in his new
53 Studebaker. When Roy gets his new ride dialed in it will be badazz.

As far as the unexpected, lightning hit the track Saturday afternoon
and what followed was something most will never see. A fire broke
out on the hills just east of the track and before long the track's
own airshow was the headline as six different water bombers, three
or four different bird dog (spotter planes), and a number of private
aircraft buzzed the track.

AUTO CLUB FAMOSO RACEWAY, BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Clear blue skies
and sunshine, along with amazing nostalgia racing and the chance
to reminisce with hot rod heroes from the past conspired to make
Sunday at the 16th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California
Hot Rod Reunion, presented by Holley, the largest event yet in the
Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum's Hot Rod Heritage Series.

Brad Thompson took the Nostalgia Top Fuel class victory with the
quickest and fastest time and speed of the meet - 5.721 seconds
at 261.62 mph over Pete Kaiser's 5.924 and 228.54 respectively.
Thompson capped a perfect weekend in which he set the elapsed time
and top speed records during qualifying. His was the quickest of
20 dragsters in the class, one of the largest showings in recent
years.

In Nostalgia Funny Car, run in the "Chicago style," Bucky
Austin took the honors in the "Northwest Hitter" over
Terry Capp in "Bubble Up". In Chicago style racing, only
the top eight qualifiers advance to eliminations. At Bakersfield,
16 cars ran for time, sending eight home after just one qualifying
run. The eight-fastest ran again, with Terry Capp and Austin the
two quickest winners, advancing to the final. Capp defeated NHRA
POWERade Drag Racing Series star Ron Capps, taking a brief break
from the Countdown to One. Capps' POWERade Series crew chief is
Reunion Grand Marshal Ed "The Ace" McCulloch.

Perhaps the scariest moment in the event came when Funny Car driver
Randy Walls lit his car on fire. Walls was able to exit the car
and suffered only a blister on his hand in the intense flames, but
the car burned to the ground.

Meanwhile, vendors reported a brisk business in souvenirs, the
Auto Club helped members with instructions on how to get around
a blockage on Interstate 5 between Bakersfield and Los Angeles and
spectators and reporters from around the world filled the grandstands
and lined the fences.

Next year's Reunion will be the concluding event in the Hot Rod
Heritage Series, which gets under way at Famoso in March with the
March Meet. The dates for next year's 17th annual Automobile Club
of Southern California Hot Rod Reunion, presented by Holley, are
pending.

Final qualifying

AUTO CLUB FAMOSO RACEWAY, Bakersfield, Calif. - Brad Thompson,
of nearby Visalia, took his Uyehara-Rodeck Nostalgia Top Fuel dragster
to the top of the charts in qualifying for Sunday's final eliminations
at the 16th annual Auto Club of So. Calif. Hot Rod Reunion, presented
by Holley. Thompson roared down the quarter-mile in just 5.741 seconds
at a speed of 255.89 mph. Second-quickest was Jim Murphy of Santa
Rosa in a Stirling-Rodeck at 5.774 seconds and 257.43 mph. Courtesy
of Drag Race Central here are the results following final qualifying
sessions (both Top Fuel sessions listed, in the order they were
run) for the 16th annual Automobile Club of Southern California
Hot Rod Reunion, presented by Holley at Auto Club Famoso Raceway:

Funny Car qualifying

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Order after one round of qualifying in Nostalgia
Funny Car at the California Hot Rod Reunion,

16th California Hotrod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club
of Southern California:

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying
in Nostalgia Top Fuel at the California Hot Rod Reunion, 16th California
Hotrod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California:

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying
in Nostalgia Elim at the California Hot Rod Reunion, 16th California
Hotrod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California:

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying
in Junior Fuel B at the California Hot Rod Reunion, 16th California
Hotrod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California:

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying
in Junior Fuel A at the California Hot Rod Reunion, 16th California
Hotrod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California:

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Final order after 2 rounds of qualifying
in AA/Gas Supercharged at the California Hot Rod Reunion, 16th California
Hotrod Reunion, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California: